Hilarie Couture

Professional artist Hilarie Couture began drawing at the age of two, using a purple crayon to dress the women in her dad's Playboy magazines. Living in an abusive home, she would retreat into her closet and draw faces that resembled Margaret Keanes' sad-eyed kids from the sixties, ballet dancers, and horses.

Hilarie's love of art continued through high school. She was awarded a scholarship to attend Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in fashion design and medical illustration. However, she quit, discouraged, having attended only pre-med classes and no art. Desiring to live the life of an artist, she hitchhiked to San Francisco to draw portraits on the streets. One day she traded a portrait for a haircut and was convinced to become a hair designer—a "real" job. She abandoned her drawing skills for over thirty-five years.

Later, Hilarie became an auctioneer, appraiser, and realtor, owning a combination salon-auction gallery/antique mall. These careers provided a creative outlet and income but still, Hilarie yearned for more, and at age 55, she earned a degree in historic building preservation. One class required her to paint a mural that won an award. Her instructor said she "missed her calling" and should have been doing art all along. That was the catalyst that brought Hilarie back to fine art painting.

Hilarie describes what motivates and inspires her to paint: "The history of my life informs what I do; every trial and triumph translates to the canvas. I believe that painting portraits and figures gives me what I have always strived for—a connection with people, and to feel loved and validated. In choosing to paint people, I realize certain truths: facial recognition is the first form of communication, and somehow for me, painting subconsciously resolves the difficult relationship I had with my mother. The intimacy that flows from the sitter to the artist, to the viewer forms a very personal bond. Through faces, paintings tell THEIR stories —as well as MINE."

 

• Afternoon at Sauvie Afternoon at Sauvie
• Barbara Holding the Fruit Basket Barbara Holding the Fruit Basket
• Happy Anniversary Happy Anniversary
• Sassy Little Ladybug Sassy Little Ladybug
• Through Thin Veils Through Thin Veils
• Wistful Wistful
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For more information about Hilarie Couture and to view her works, visit https://www.hcouturearts.com

 

SOLO SHOWS

2020 Explorations in Paint and.... , solo show Attic Gallery ,Camas , Washington

2019 Intertwinings, guest artist Jansen Art Center, Lynden, Washington

2017 Founding Mothers, Book signing and final show , Cascade Park Library, Vancouver, Washington

2017 Founding Mothers, Book signing and show , Three Creeks Library, Vancouver, Washington

2017 Locals Show Invitational, Attic Gallery, Camas, Washington

2017 Touchmark, Vancouver, Washington

2017 Founding Mothers, Ft. Vancouver Visitors Center, Vancouver, Washington

2017 Terwiliger Plaza, Geezer, Gallery, Portland, Oregon

2017 That Which is Beauty, Mt. Hood Community College Fireplace Gallery, Gresham, Oregon

2016 People, Place or Thing, Lava Java Coffee shop, Ridgefield, Washington

2016 Tour of Founding Mother’s Portraits of Progress, Clark County Historical Museum and other locations, Vancouver, Washington

2016 Aurora Gallery, featured artist, February, Women and their Exotic Animal Spirits, Vancouver,Washington

2015 Artsy Shark, featured artist, online

2015 Broadway Gallery, Guest Artist, month of February, Art From My Heart , Longview, Washington

2014 Muse Art and Design, People and Places of Portland, Portland, Oregon

2014 Second Story Gallery, Les Femmes et les Fleurs Camas, Washington

 

JURIED PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

2019 Pastel society of North Carolina International Show

2019 NW pastel Society International Show, American Art Company , Tacoma, Washington

2018-2019 Featured artist August 2019 Splendorporium gallery monthly shows, Portland,Oregon

2018 Nwpastel Society members show, Kirkland, Washington

2018 Nwpastel society International show, American Art Company , Tacoma, Washington

2018 International Pastel Society Show, American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington

2018 Celebration of Creativity ,Beaverton, Oregon

2018 Scottsdale Artists School , Best and Brightest 2018 show, Scottsdale artists School, Scottsdale , Arizona

2017 Holiday Small Works Show , National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Cathy Kline Gallery , Parkville , Missouri

2017 Northwest Pastel Society Members Show, Portland, Oregon

2017 Northwest Pastel Society, International Show, American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington

2016 Women Artists of the West, Annual Show, Fredricksburg, Texas

2015/2017 Peoples Art, Big 500 show, Portland, Oregon

2015 Clark County Open Studios, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Broderick Gallery, Longview ,Washington, Regional Artists

2014 NOAPS National oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Show, Bolivar and Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

2014 Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, Washington

2014 NOPG Northwest Oil Painters Guild, Hanging at the Summit, Ridgefield, Washington

2014 Rose Festival Show, Oregon Society of Artists, Portland, Oregon

2014 Aurora Gallery, featured artist, Vancouver, Washington

2014 Cascade Aids Project Art Auction, Portland, Oregon

2013 Senior Show, Sixth Floor Gallery, Vancouver, Washington

2013 Camas Art Gallery, Camas, Washington

2012 Gallery 360, Vancouver, Washington

2012 Portrait Show, North Bank Gallery, Vancouver, Washington

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019 Group shows RJ art Gallery, Mc Minnevile, Oregon

2018 Group Show Pathways, Christmans Gallery, Sellwood, Oregon,

2017 Locals Show, Attic Gallery, Camas, Washington

2016 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual show, Vancouver, Washington

2016/2018 Society of Washington Artists Spring Show , Vancouver, Washington

2016 For the Love of Portland, Peoples Gallery, Portland ,Oregon

2015 Toys, Aurora Gallery, Vancouver, Washington

2015 Portrait Society show, U.S. Bank, Portland, Oregon

2015 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual members show, Vancouver, Washington

2015 Clark County Fair, Vancouver, Washington

2015 Trillium Gallery on line published in their monthly magazines

2015 Lakewood Festival of the Arts Open Show, Lake Oswego, Oregon

2015 Society of Washington Artists Open Show, Vancouver, Washington

2014 Art Factors, Alla Prima Portland, Portland, Oregon

2014 SWA Spring Show, Vancouver, Washington

2014/ 2018 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show , Battleground, Washington

2013 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show, Battleground, Washington

2013 Harvest Days Festival, Battleground, Washington

2013 Art and Wine Festival, Vancouver, Washington

2013 SWA Spring Show, Vancouver, Washington

2013 Lakewood Festival of the Arts Open Show, Lake Oswego, Oregon

2012 Hillsboro Plein Aire Show , Walters Cultural Center , Hillsboro, Oregon

2012 Art in the Garden ,Golden Gallery, Beaverton, Oregon

2012 Art in the Heart , Vancouver, Washington

2012 Squared Show Hillsboro, Oregon

2012 Lakewood Open Show ,Lake Oswego, Oregon

2012 Art in the Business, Vancouver, Washington

 

AWARDS

2020Bold Brush Fav 15

2019 Bold Brush Fav 15 and outstanding Pastel Finalist

2018 Nw Pastel Society members show, jurors award

2018 Nw Pastel Society International show, jurors award

2018 Bold Brush fav 15

2017 Bold Brush fav15 and outstanding pastel finalist

2017 Art Muse Contest, Finalist Emerging Artist August /September

2017 Heaven Art Gallery, first place Love category, Scottsdale, Arizona

2016 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual Show , first Place, Third Place and Sponsor award, Vancouver, Washington

2016/2018 Society of Washington Artists Spring show, Best of show, 2nd Place oil painting, 3rd place , Vancouver, Washington

2015 Oil Painters Guild Annual Show, Best of show, 2 Sponsor awards, Vancouver, Washington

2015 Clark County Fair, first place, Vancouver, Washington

2015 Lakewood Festival of the Arts, Blue Ribbon, Lake Oswego, Oregon

2015 SWA Society of Washington Artists, first place oil painting, Vancouver, Washington

2014 NOAPS Best of America Show, Best People Painting award, Bolivar , Missouri

2014 NOPG Hanging at the Summit, honorable mention, Vancouver, Washington

2014 Rose Festival Show , third place, Portland, Oregon

2014 SWA Society of Washington Artists Spring Show, Best of Show , third place , honorable mention and sponsor award, Vancouver, Washington

2018-2014-2013 -2012 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show, sponsor award, honorable mention , Battleground, Washington

2013-2012 Washington Society of Artists Spring and Fall show , sponsor award ,honorable mention, Vancouver, Washington

2012 North Clackamas Art Show ,third place pastel , Milwaukee, Oregon

2010 Celebration of Learning, second place, acrylic ,Belmont Technical College, St. Clairsville, Ohio

2010 Emerging artist, Oglebyfest, pastel and charcoal portraits, Wheeling, West Virginia

 

For more information about Hilarie Couture and to view her works, visit https://www.hcouturearts.com